Chile's Supreme Court halts start of 640-MW Cuervo hydropower project

COYHAIQUE, Chile 5/15/12 (PennWell) -- Appeals by environmental groups have stymied construction of Chile's 640-MW Cuervo hydroelectric plant less than a week after work on the project appeared imminent.

The Supreme Court said SEIA acted illegally in approving the Cuervo project and ignored the Chilean National Geology and Mining Service's recommendation that project developers conduct a new soil survey.

This survey must be completed, the Supreme Court says, before the project will be eligible for approval.